The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-05-25
GENIUS AND STUDENT.


saying.
Once upon time there lived In China
man Of great learning and much talent.
But cupidity, vice which brought his
learning to be of little worth, had so per-
verted his heart that he came at last to
lose even the house he lived in.
Finding himself ruined and without re-
sources Of any kind, he abandoned the So
ciety Of men, and, wandering at random,
found his way into wilderness Of noun
tains capped with white clouds There
he sat down upon a rock, folded his arms
and began to commune with himself in
great perplexity as to what he should do.
He was on the point Of yielding to de-
spair, when an old white haired man, clad
in garment made Of the leaves of trees,
approached him noiselessly as a ghost.
This old man, after looking at him very
hard for long time, said:
Long ago used to be school comrade
Of yours"
Then as the other proetrated himself at
his feet the old man continued, with
severe look:
Long ago you used 10 study, just as I
did tho essence of the moral law.
"But your heart, which by nature Is not
wholly upright, became totally perverted
by covetousness; therefore you now suffer,
even In this world, and you have even lost
your house.
"On the other hand, purified my heart
from the covetous desires of this world;
and by diligently practicing the essence of
the law l became great genius, having
to depend upon no one, and possessing su-
pernatural power. Nothing can now op-
pose my will.
Snow you also must endeavor to change
your heart and free yourself from desires
by turning your thoughts to that which Is
good"
When the student heard that the genius
had acquired supernatural powers which
he could dispose of as he pleased, he be-
gan to shed hypocritical tears. And he
cried out:
"Even as my lord says have suffered
in this world because my talents were not
equal to the qualification of my desires;
and this has brought INC to such condi-
tion that now suffer with hunger and
with thirst
~ beg Of you, kind genius, to remem-
Der the friendship which drew us together
of old, and to obtain for ME littlo rice by
tho exercise of your supernatural power.
For such favor l shall be grateful to you
as long as l live" And he Frustrated
himself at the feet of the genius.
The genius laughed heartily at this, and
said to the student: "You are now like
flint in an oven, and you are suffering so
because your heart is full of envy. Still,
rs it is easy for mo to obtain you some rice
by exercise of my supernatural faculties,
Twill grant your wish"
Lifting his index finger he cried out.
"Ha-mu" and Immediately q multitude
of sacks Of rice rose out of the ground, to
the number Of four or five thousand
Then, turning to the student, he said to
him:
SIN the enormous quantity of rice 1
have now provided you with, you have
more than enough to support you for the
rest of your life. As the proverb says,
He who has riches enough mover wishes
for anything I suppose you will under
stand that you have now sufficient for all
your necessities, and that you should at
once endeavor to Danish all covetousness
from your heart. Certainly the need of
nourishment is the greatest of all neces-
sities."
The student exhausted himself tn ex-
pressions Of gratitude and bows Of thanks
''Your Kindness" he cried, 'has indeed
more than fulfilled all tho desires of my
ife-yet have one little thing more to
ask from you. If you grant my request I
will PROSTATE myself before your further
generosities."
The genius answered in irritation: "Is
your heart, then, absolutely insatiable
What greater desire can you possibly have
than that which have already satis-
fiedfr
The student, in a respectful voice, re-
piled: SIT is true that by your help have
been placed in possession Of quantity Of
ripa thoJ, ct1ffi y,aa5u.
but II l have no storehouse to keep it in
what am to do with iti If you would
only be so kind as to get me storehouse
by the same meansl'
"AhT' cried the genius; show violent
are the desires of this man! Why could
you not build yourself storehouse by
selling some OF this rice-so much at q
timer Nevertheless, extravagant as your
request Is, since began to try to satisfy
you, shall endeavor to continue. Ha-
mu!" he cried again, lifting his finger.
Immediately multitude of storehouses
appeared, and when all the bags of rice
had been slowed away in them the genius
said: "Oh, man of many desires, l trust
that you are now satistiedr'
"Yes, tndeedr' exclaimed the student
in his joy; Sin giving me these splendid
storehouses you have indeed done all for
me that could wish. Truly your good
ness has no limits, and my soul is filed
with gratitude-still-let me ask-could
you not listen moment have little
request so make9''
Then, stricken with establishment, the
genius said: "What more can you posi-
bly, wants'
The student answered: tOf course l
know that all this rice and these store
ofr h1a. t,,t oR
place to live in l must have-without a
dwelling my position would be altogether
false. Does it not occur to you that peo.
pie, on seeing You had furnished me with
storehouses and no lodging, would say that
the great genius was neglectful9 Itwould
really pain me great deal to hear any one
speak i'll of SO great sage as you are. I
just leave the question to your own high
intelligence!'
Then said the genius: 80 covetous and
shameless man, great a rascal as you are,
| feel that must now give way to your
desires, even as a ship whose destiny has
been intrusted to the high seas"
And as he once more lifted his finger and
cried: "Ha-mu!' there arose, on sud
den, rows Of lordly mansions-palaces
worthy of the mikado-whose roofs, COW
cred with ornamentation, all stretched
away in one level and luminous line.
"Oh, thanks" cried the student, bow
ing his head nine times to the ground.
"At your command seas of rice and streets
of storehouses have come to me, and now,
indeed, dwellings also are given unto me-
Assuredly, no man could wish for any
thing more.
"And yet, as thoughts pass through my
mind, l cannot help fearing that people
will laugh at the stupidity of man who
dwells in splendid mansions and possesses
multitudinous warehouses, and yet never
has cent in his pocket; yea, they will moi
simply laugh at the man who hides hi:
poverty under merely exterior wealth
but they will also ocalumniate you. Thinl
| of thatl
'If you will kindly help me by granting
my new request; If you will kindly gran
mo five or six chests full Of silver and o
gold, and 200 or 800 cases full of all sort
of wearing apparel, then would, indeed
he fully satisfied; should never again b.
tormcnted by immoderate desire and
would not think of asking yot: : : any
thing more-no, not even for Il i.:"or q
small as single hair from the head of
newly born child"
While the student thus supplicated him
with joined hands, the genius was so over
come with wrath that he could not ute
one single word. He thought to himself
Il have gone SO far already in trying t
satisfy his desires that it is possible ma.
Il